How to Organize Your House When Every Space is Overwhelming
If you’re standing in the middle of a messy home—dirty dishes on the coffee table, laundry baskets overflowing, kitchen counters buried under everyday items—you’re not alone.
Most of us aren't living in the new build, aesthetically designed and organized homes of our favorite influencers and celebrities. As much as we all desire to have a home that looks like no one lives there ( haha), the reality is we live in small condos, old colonial houses, and split-level homes from the '70s. Storage is nonexistent, and so is the staff of maids cleaning up every day.
This is called normalcy!
I know it's overwhelming and can feel impossible to know where to start. However, I want you to pause and recognize that we all have busy periods when maintaining a pristine home isn't the main priority.
The good news? You don’t need to be a millionaire to have a clean space, and you definitely don't need to spend a lot of time organizing your entire house all in one weekend. The best way forward is to take a deep breath, forgive your past self ( and the past selves of your housemates) for the mess they made, and focus on one tiny step at a time. That’s how you’ll go from overwhelmed to organized—and actually keep it that way.
Now, if you're saying, "I know that Renee, but it's still A LOT!" I got you! Here’s a simple step-by-step plan to get you started when the overwhelm takes over:
Step 1: Shift Your Mindset
Before you can make any lasting change, you need to accept that you deserve the change you're seeking. Everything is figureoutable, this means that anything you decide you want is already yours. You have to accept it and start to behave like you already have it. So how do you actually do that?
First, remind yourself: a cluttered mess doesn’t define you or mean failure. You’re a human being, and life brings too much stuff into our homes all the time. You can decide the fate of every item in your home. You are in control.
Next, release the guilt. The first place to begin isn’t with your clutter—it’s with your thoughts. Stop blaming yourself, your partner, and your kids for living life! Just because your house is a mess doesn't mean it can't get cleaned or organized. You can start over as many times as it takes. Focus on the vision you want for your home rather than what you can't undo, the past!
Last, focus on the simplest step: progress over perfection. What is the smallest step toward that vision you can take today? Focus on what YOU can do, not what others should or shouldn't be doing.
Step 2: Start with the Easiest Things
With our refreshed mindset, we can now act. We are going to start by taking that small step to get you closer to your vision. This step should be something you can complete independently without assistance. I so often hear clients mention that the first step requires something so extreme, which is likely what has prevented them from starting. So I challenge you to pick something in your control that you can do. Some examples I typically recommend are:
Grab a garbage bag and toss trash you see right away. This keeps you in the space and minimizes distraction while still progressing you forward.
Collect anything that’s clearly out of place (like bathroom items in the kitchen or food in the living room). This becomes a bit of a scavenger hunt and can gamify the experience. You aren't putting these items back where they belong yet; we're just collecting them and setting them aside.
These easy tasks give you quick wins and cut through decision fatigue. Once you start, you have momentum and you're more likely to keep going.
Step 3: Choose a Small Area
With our starting actions out of the way, we can now move through the space in smaller, timed sections. You'll choose one small area of the space to focus on. Don’t look at the entire space. Pick one small project, like:
A junk drawer
A single flat surface (coffee table, dining room table, or kitchen counters)
One corner of a room
You'll set a 15-minute timer. For 15 minutes, you'll sort through items only in this one area, decide whether they should stay in the space or if they belong elsewhere. You'll only work in this area until the timer goes off. When it goes off, you can either continue to complete this area, stop for the day, or move on to another location if you have finished and the cleaning motivation kicks in.
Step 4: Sort into Simple Categories
If you choose to keep going, hyper-focus on sorting items into simple categories first so you don't get distracted by putting things back or researching what the item is. I always recommend using the following categories:
Keep: These are items you love, adore, and definitely want to stay in the space. Always, put items that fit this description in the center of the space so you know they are there to stay.
Rehome: These are items you want to keep, but you would prefer to store somewhere else in the home. Use a laundry basket for items that belong somewhere else. When you finish in the space you're working in, you can then deliver the items to their new homes.
Donate: these are items that are in decent condition that you no longer want and believe someone else could still use. Always keep a “donate” box handy for items you no longer need. Once it's full, you can then drop it off at the closest donation center.
Homework: These are items that are tough to decide on. Either it has sentimental value, isn't yours to decide on, needs repairing, or requires research to figure out if it's worth keeping. They require a little more work to take care of, hence the name! Save sentimental items or any items that fit the description for later—they can slow you down and derail progress in the beginning.
Every single item should have a designated place before it earns a spot back in your space and home.
Step 5: Tackle Smaller Chunks & Keep It Fun
Instead of trying to organize an entire room on a Saturday morning, break it down into smaller chunks. Commit to one decluttering task per day: clear a drawer, tidy the kitchen floor, or empty the next basket of stuff. These baby steps add up to a clutter-free home faster than you think.
As long as you're making progress toward your end vision, that's all that matters. I often see folks pushing themselves to exhaustion in an effort to complete the project in one day or one weekend, which is admirable if they have the capacity to do so. But don't do it because you think you should, and then burn yourself out to the point you won't come back to it. Provide yourself a window of time, and whatever is outstanding can be rescheduled for another day. Never shame yourself into change before you're ready.
The more positive you are, the more progress you'll make because you'll associate the hard work with something rewarding. The minute it doesn't feel beneficial, you'll stop and be right back where you started. While you're at it, stack something enjoyable with the hard work. So play your favorite music, podcast, or audiobook while you do this work so that it doubles the reward.
Step 6: Ask for Help
There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you're overwhelmed. Especially if you live with others, everyone in the house can help out and chip in. Decluttering and organizing really is a group activity, and your entire household should be aware of the transition the home is undergoing. Invite a family member, good friend, or partner to join you and make it a joint activity—play music or even catch up on life while you work. Having support can make the task feel less overwhelming and is a great way to stay accountable. If you don't have someone to help you, reach out to me! I'd be happy to hang out with you for the day to get your space in order.
Step 7: Celebrate Your Wins
Last but certainly not least, celebrate the fact that you started, progressed, and overcame your overwhelm! Notice the sense of accomplishment when you clear even a small space. Take a moment to enjoy your tidy home before moving on to the next step. Every small section you finish brings you a long way toward peace and order.
We don't celebrate our small actions nearly enough, and I think that's part of the reason why we don't start, finish, or attempt hard things. Any action you take to simplify your space and your life deserves a round of applause.
Final Thoughts
When your house feels overwhelming, the easiest way to start is with the simplest step. Clear the obvious trash, pick a small area, and keep building in smaller chunks. Each tiny step creates momentum—and before you know it, you’ll look around and realize your whole house feels lighter.
And if you’d like a full framework, room-by-room guides, and my favorite product recommendations, grab a copy of my new Organize It Once guide. It’s a simple solution for anyone who wants an organized and clutter-free space that lasts.
Good luck—you’ve got this.
